April 29

As Lee held Rosemary's hand and led her home after their long walk and wonderful talk, a buggy came meandering down the lane and stopped at the front door. After a moment, Bill jumped out of the driver's side and assisted Harriet from the buggy, her face aglow. She truly did look like a new woman. Long gone was the weathered and worn, pinched tight-shut-shell of a woman who had entered town unwelcome months ago. In her place was a confident, yet humble woman who was starting to find who she was and where she belonged. Not much unlike Rosemary herself.

They approached the buggy and Lee left her side to go check in on the latest goings-on of the town with the sheriff. Harriet wiggled her gloved fingers in a goodbye to Bill and linked arms with Rosemary as they walked toward the front door.

Rosemary could barely believe the glow emulating from Harriet. "Someone looks to be glowing this fine afternoon. Did you enjoy your time with Bill?"

They walked through the front door and Harriet sighed as she took off her hat and placed it on the coat rack. "Oh yes, every time I am with Bill it feels like… well, heaven." And her face surely did look like the face of an angel.

"I do have to remark I have seen quite a change in you. Although I attribute much of it to Bill, I noticed it even before the spark between you two. What's going on?"

"It's true." A pretty blush crept up Harriet's cheeks. "I am starting to feel very welcome here. With you, with Lee, and eventually the little ones. I am glad you asked me to stay. I truly am considering that." She pulled her gloves off, finger by finger, and laid them on the edge of the settee.

Rosemary nodded. "I am glad to hear that."

She walked to the dining table and motioned for Harriet to have a seat, while she went to gather the kettle off the stove. Harriet did in fact sit down, placing the basket she had been carrying down at the table in front of her.

"But the glow you see in me… I cannot give all the credit to the kindness of Hope Valley."

"Oh?" Rosemary came close and poured them each a cup of tea before sitting down at the corner of the table.

"No, I meant to talk to you of this sooner, but well with all the busyness… I haven't had a moment alone with you."

"Okay." Rosemary wasn't sure where this was going. For some reason nervous butterflies arose in her belly.

"I am not sure of all the terminology… the proper way to say these things… but well, I have become a part of the family of God."

"What? Oh, Harriet, how wonderful." Rosemary stood up and gave her mother a hug, a tear slipping from her eyes. "It truly is an answer to prayers!" If anyone had told her months ago that her and Harriet would be on speaking terms as well as exchanging conversion stories… well she would not have believed it. Yet, here it was unfolding even before her eyes. God really was in the miracle working business.

"Do tell all." Rosemary settled back into her seat, a smile curving on her lips, her heart even lighter than before.

"Well, long story short… from my father to my first husband—John- to Edgar… I haven't had a very good track record with men. Somehow I seemed destined to fail them, and they destined to fail me. No matter how hard we'd try. Oh, Edgar and I gave each other the best try of all, but for my father and John I was most unconventional and unpredictable. Perhaps even impossible to please. No man wants to feel like he isn't enough for his child or wife. And I struggled the same way. I felt like I was all too much and not enough all at the same time for each man who came into my life, including my son, Samuel. I even failed him, the poor dear. Then coming here… to Hope Valley… I was hopeful for a new start with you, yet I came with that same chip on my shoulder. I knew how horribly I had failed you. I tried to act chipper… positive, upbeat, convince myself that perhaps we could work through it— but underneath it all, I knew that I was subject once again to the horrible destiny of failure. I'd failed you, and as much as I hoped you'd forgive me… well," She straightened.

"I failed you too." Rosemary spoke the words honestly.

Harriet dipped her head slightly. "All this failing, and being failed, over and over again…It was beginning to swallow me whole. Thanks to your graciousness, we continued to work on connecting, but then I realized, here I was going again, trying to base my life and welfare on others… others who would fail me, that I would ultimately fail." She twisted her hands.

After a slight pause, Harriet continued, "The day God broke into my heart Pastor Frank preached of the little lamb who had strayed. Do you remember that story?"

Rosemary nodded. It was one of her favorite Scripture passages.

"He said we each were like that lost little lamb- the lamb on who his own accord drifted from the protection of the sheep pen. But the good shepherd came to find the sheep, to bring it back to his fold. Sure, the lamb had wondered and messed up, but the good shepherd didn't reprimand him or tell him what a failure he was. No, his arms opened wide to the sheep and he welcomed him back and even threw a party for him." A little tear glistened on Harriet's cheek as she smiled.

"It was then I realized I was always sought after by a man who could look past my failures and would never fail me. The good shepherd. I opened my heart to him not long after."

"That is simply remarkable. And not so unlike my own story." Rosemary patted her hand. "Isn't it good how the Lord draws us to himself?"

"It's true. You sharing your testimony with me, it was the final blow… after that my heart was wide open to the things the Lord was whispering to me."

Rosemary smiled, the joy bubbling out of her heart. "Welcome to the family. I am pretty new here myself. I think we could help each other out on this walk. Do you have a Bible yet?"

Harriet removed a new Bible from the basket she had brought in. "Bill just gave this to me today. He went to Edmonton yesterday to get it for me. It's even engraved."

Rosemary looked appreciatively at the fine, expensive gift, and then ran her fingers over the engraving. "What? No last name?"

Harriet's cheeks colored. "Oh well… he said he didn't want to mark it permanently with my last name."

"Oh… is that right?" Rosemary smiled. "Sounds like an engagement may be in order here before too long."

Harriet raised her eyebrows, a look of nervousness settling on her face. "I'm not ready for that yet. I have told Bill multiple times."

"Wait?" Rosemary about choked. "Multiple times?" My, Bill was moving fast!

Harriet dipped her head shyly. "Yes. But I've told him I just want to find my footing in this town and in my faith before making any huge steps."

Rosemary nodded, her mother sounding as if she had her mind made up. And Bill wrapped around her little finger! He really did get hooked on Harriet. They did make a cute couple and in time, marriage partners. Who would have thought- her mother and the sheriff? Perhaps it was all a part of God's plan. But for now… one step at a time. And speaking of one step at a time… perhaps they could take the next steps of growing in relationship with Christ together. An idea formed in her mind.

"How about we start a morning study? Right after breakfast tomorrow? I'll show you a few of my favorite verses and we can learn things together."

Harriet smiled. "That would be wonderful." You know… I never could have imagined all this." She motioned between them. "When I headed out West to meet you after all these years, I had high hopes… but I never ever thought things would end out like this. I am grateful and thankful for you opening your heart to me, especially after all I have done. I hope you know… I am sorry for all the ways I failed you. I am thankful to God for giving us a second chance."

"As am I." Rosemary hugged her mother and felt as if her heart would burst with the love flowing there. It was a time of new beginnings for all of them.